Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used to study the physiology of the primary motor hand area (M1-HAND) in humans. In the first part of my talk, I will describe a novel “spatial neuronavigation” approach designed to map the somatotopy of corticomotor representations in the motor hand knob. Using sulcus-shape based TMS mapping, we uncovered a centre-surround organisation of short-latency sensory integration (study 1) and traced use-dependent intra-area reorganisation in human M1-HAND (study 2). In the second part of my talk, I will touch on the concept of “temporal neuronavigation”. Using the EEG as read out of ongoing neural activity, TMS can be used to target a specific phase of an ongoing brain oscillation expressed such as slow wave oscillations during sleep or pericentral mu rhythm during wakefukness. This EEG-informed TMS approach opens up novel possibilities for informed open-loop or closed-loop applications.

Biosketch:
Hartwig R. Siebner is professor for Functional Neuroimaging at the University of Copenhagen and head of the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR). He maps, manipulates, and models the causal dynamics of brain networks. To this end, he combines advanced functional and structural brain imaging with interventional protocols (e.g., NTBS, pharmacological challenges, or training). He uses this combined intervention-mapping approach to gain novel insights into human brain plasticity and the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders.